Why six? Because when you make it yourself, you add one more essential element...your own vision.

Friday, March 4, 2011

Burda's Shark Fin Skirt

So here's the Italian bimba skirt from February's Burda, which for obvious reasons, I'm nicknaming the Shark Fin. I think it'll be a useful cotton skirt to transition from winter through spring to summer, when I can wear it with my black cotton platform espradrilles, but I have a few quibbles.

One is the finniness of the gore, (I used a plain non-stretch cotton) which leaves me with the option of ironing it down decoratively into a triangular pleat, or going around humming, 'Boom-boom, boom-boom, boom-boom" in homage to Jaws. Admittedly, it makes this very pegged skirt highly walkable.

Another surprise was the height of the waistband, which I've belted here to actually bring the eye down. I have a very short waist so this baby reaches up unflatteringly to my ribcage. That's why I've chosen to lengthen the waistline back down with a black cardigan. But notice that with the high-heeled boots, very suited to the style of swishy gore, I look like Stilt Lady.

For "les courses" today (weekly shopping) I swapped the cardigan for a motorcycle jacket. Pretty good outfit for town wear, I think, racier than "office" but more stylish than "gym."

I think this looks great and the high waist is very flattering. I love the belt and actually a fitted skirt with a long kick vent thingy looks very stylish. Great shape for you too. Work it girl with those boots!

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Under Their Skin

A Little Backstory

I love to sew. I started at age 13 when my legs were four inches too long for McCall's trousers. Fifty years later, I'm still at it, but don't actually need any more clothes.
You'll know more than you should about me by picking up a copy of my comic novel, "A Visit From Voltaire," nominated for the Orange/Bailey's Prize for Fiction in 2004.
If you prefer thrillers and mysteries, check out the trilogy "The Handover Mysteries" by clicking on the images in above. Everything's available in bookstores or Amazon, iBookstore, Sony, Kobo and B&N worldwide.
Happy Sewing and happy reading!